Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has rounded on Peter Crouch after the striker expressed his concerns over the protracted takeover of the club.
Storrie insists Pompey are still in the process of due diligence with Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim and has declared his disappointment at Crouch's outburst.
Crouch's comments which were published in Sunday's newspapers detailed the player's disgruntlement at the uncertainty currently surrounding the South Coast club.
“These are very disappointing comments because anybody in their right mind knows we are in a due-diligence period and the due diligence period means the club are technically in limbo for a month while this goes on,” Storrie told the Portsmouth News.
“We cannot finalise matters on the manager and we can't finalise matters on players we are lining up.
“All the players know this and I'm surprised. I think Peter must have been caught off-guard on these sort of comments.
“I'm sure when I speak to Peter he will tell me he didn't actually say it that way, they have been twisted around a little bit. But it's very disappointing.”
A spokesman for Al-Fahim has also dismissed concerns that the bid may be in contravention of Premier League rules which forbid two clubs being owned by the same controlling interest.
Al-Fahim’s company Hydra Properties is reportedly part of a group chaired by the brother of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour.
Spokesman Ivo Ilic Gabara said: “When Al-Fahim Asia associates put together the offer to acquire Portsmouth they were at the time, and are today, very confident they can fully meet the criteria set by The Premier League."
Weekend reports which were later denied claimed that Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards and former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were also involved in the £60 million takeover.